In the tight-stakes environment of contemporary air combat, few on-the-ground incidents demonstrate the strength of stealth and tactical restraint quite as much as the now-classic 2013 standoff between a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor and two Iranian F-4 Phantom aircraft over international waters off Iran. It was not a dogfight, and no shots were ever fired—yet it was a stark illustration of how cutting-edge technology and cool professionalism can dominate the skies without ever having to pull a trigger.
This attack followed a series of heightened moments in the area, particularly around U.S. drone activity near Iranian airspace. American MQ-1 Predator drones, which are unarmed but slow-moving and loaded with reconnaissance capabilities, were conducting routine overflights in international airspace off the Iranian coast. To Iran, they represented an unwanted presence. In one high-profile incident in November 2012, two Iranian Su-25 fighter jets attempted to blast a Predator with their 30mm guns. After several passes, the drone was still intact. Whether or not the pilots had missed on purpose, their warning was delivered in no uncertain terms: Iran was not pleased that the drones were lingering.
Replied to, the U.S. was not going to leave its Ossets unarmed. The Air Force started escorting drones with fighter jets. Sometimes that meant dispatching F/A-18s, but far more frequently it was the stealthy F-22 Raptor that was summoned. Based in the UAE and flying with precision, these Raptors provided air muscle and were set to make a statement of their own.
Then there was March 2013. Two Iranian F-4 Phantoms—an aging design that dates to the Cold War era, but as deadly as ever in the right circumstances—locked onto another Predator flying about 16 miles off the Iranian coast. To the Iranian pilots, it most likely appeared to be a routine intercept. The Predator was a vulnerable, easy target. But what they didn’t realize was that they weren’t alone out there.
Sneaking in quietly overhead was an F-22 Raptor, flown by Lt. Col. Kevin “Showtime” Sutterfield. Due to the stealth capabilities of the Raptor, the Iranian fighters were not aware he was there. Sutterfield took advantage of that stealth, sneaking up unnoticed, close enough to scout out the F-4s from underneath, down to their firepower load. Then, with the cool aplomb of a pilot who is aware he has everything to gain and nothing to lose, he drew alongside one of the Iranian aircraft.
What followed is now Air Force history. Sutterfield, says Gen. Mark Welsh, then Air Force Chief of Staff, coolly opened a radio channel and said to the Iranian pilot, “You really oughta go home.” That was all it took. The message had been received. Both Iranian aircraft turned back in the direction of home, without ever putting a finger—or a missile—on the Predator.
This was not merely a close encounter or a strategic victory. It was a statement. The F-22 didn’t merely outmaneuver the F-4s—it made them irrelevant. Even with two planes to one, the Iranian pilots never had a chance. By the time they even knew an American fighter was present, it was too late. The Raptor owned the skies without ever being seen until the precise moment when it decided to make its presence known.
That silent moment of air superiority showed us exactly why the U.S. spent so much on fifth-generation planes. The F-22 isn’t simply fast or nimble—it’s intended to be invisible until it desires to be seen. And in that engagement, it demonstrated that even heavily armed vintage fighters can be outperformed by information, stealth, and better tech.
Aside from the tactical value, the 2013 encounter was a strong warning. It demonstrated to Iran how quickly a quiet engagement could turn against them. To the U.S. and its allies, it underscored the role of stealth fighters not only as offensive weapons but as protectors of freedom of action in hostile airspace.
Military observers frequently cite this incident as one of the greatest examples of contemporary air warfare. Dr. Brent M. Eastwood recently wrote that stealth, situational awareness, and speed are what distinguish contemporary platforms from their forebears—and this incident confirmed him. Having fired not a single shot, the F-22 sent a dramatic message: older fighters, however belligerent or heavily armed, are no match for the situational awareness and unparalleled capability of a fifth-generation fighter.
As technology advances, the takeaways from that meeting still hold. Air superiority isn’t necessarily a matter of possessing more missiles or faster airplanes—it’s about who looks first, acts first, and dominates the engagement before it’s initiated. The F-22’s stealthy intervention above the Persian Gulf is one of those infrequent, defining moments in contemporary air history. It was a subtle display of power that showed you sometimes, the strongest fighter in the air is the one you never expect.